Adaptive bit rate media streaming based on network conditions received via a network monitor

Abstract

A method includes receiving, at a device from a content source, a portion of a particular chunk of media content a particular quality level during adaptive bit rate media streaming of the media content. The method includes receiving, at the device, network data related to network conditions associated with the device in response to receipt of the portion. The method also includes, in response to a determination to download the particular chunk at a first quality level different than the particular quality level, the determination based on the particular quality level and the network data: sending a request from the device for the particular chunk at the first quality level to the content source, and replacing the portion with the particular chunk at the first quality level.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 during adaptive bit rate media streaming of media content, receiving, at a first device from a content source and via a network, a portion of a particular chunk of the media content, the portion associated with a particular quality level; 
 during the adaptive bit rate media streaming of the media content, sending, from the first device to a second device that is distinct from the content source, a query for network data related to network conditions associated with the network in response to receipt of the portion; 
 receiving the network data at the first device; and 
 in response to a determination to download the particular chunk at a first quality level different than the particular quality level, the determination based on the particular quality level and the network data:
 sending a request from the first device for the particular chunk at the first quality level to the content source; and 
 replacing the portion, at the device, with a corresponding portion of the particular chunk at the first quality level. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising sending a second request for a subsequent chunk of the media content at a second quality level based on the network data. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second quality level is lower than the first quality level. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second quality level is greater than the first quality level. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, prior to receiving the portion of the particular chunk of media content, sending from the first device to the content source a first request for the particular chunk at the particular quality level based on information in a manifest for the media content. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second device includes a controller configured to adjust a priority associated with delivery of the particular chunk to the first device. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network data includes performance indicators for a network device in a communication path between the first device and the content source. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7 , wherein the performance indicators for the network device include a data rate available for clients in a next scheduling cycle, utilization of physical resource blocks, usage load, signal strength, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting the first quality level in response to detecting, based on the network data and data throughput history information, a reduction in network resource usage, wherein the first quality level is greater than the particular quality level. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting the first quality level in response to detecting, based on the network data and data throughput history information, an increase in network resource usage, wherein the first quality level is less than the particular quality level. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second device includes a network monitor that receives monitoring data from a plurality of devices that access the network. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second device includes a proxy server, and wherein the query causes the proxy server to request the network data from a network monitor that receives monitoring data from a plurality of devices that access the network, the network monitor distinct from the second device. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the network data indicates a data rate available for a particular scheduling cycle of the network, a utilization of physical resource blocks within the network, a usage load of a network device of the network, a signal strength associated with the network, a modulation scheme or encoding rate assigned to a particular device that accesses the network, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1 , wherein replacing the portion includes overwriting the portion, at a location of a buffer of the device, with the corresponding portion of the particular chunk at the first quality level, and wherein the location is identified by a pointer. 
     
     
       15. A system comprising:
 a processor; 
 a memory in communication with the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to initiate or perform operations including:
 during adaptive bit rate media streaming of media content, receiving, from a content source and via a network, a portion of a particular chunk of the media content, the portion associated with a particular quality level; 
 during the adaptive bit rate media streaming of the media content, sending, to a particular device that is distinct from the content source, a query for network data related to network conditions associated with the network in response to receipt of the portion; 
 receiving the network data from the particular device; and 
 in response to a determination to download the particular chunk at a first quality level different than the particular quality level, the determination based on the particular quality level and the network data:
 causing an interface to send a request to the content source for the particular chunk at the first quality level; and 
 replacing the portion with a corresponding portion of the particular chunk at the first quality level. 
 
 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the operations further comprise, in response to a second determination that the particular chunk will not be delivered without disruption to playback of the media content, the second determination based on the network data and the second determination made before completion of receipt of the particular chunk:
 determining a second quality level for the particular chunk based on the network data, wherein the second quality level enables delivery of the particular chunk without disruption to playback; 
 causing the interface to send a second request for the particular chunk at the second quality level to the content source; and 
 replacing a received portion of the particular chunk with the particular chunk at the second quality level. 
 
     
     
       17. A computer-readable hardware storage device storing instructions executable by a processor to initiate or perform operations including:
 during adaptive bit rate media streaming of media content to a first device via a network, receiving, from the first device, a request for a particular chunk of the media content, the particular chunk associated with a first quality level; 
 sending, to a second device responsive to receipt of the request, a query for network data corresponding to network conditions associated with the network; 
 receiving the network data from the second device; 
 in response to a determination to adjust the request based on the network data, sending a modified request to a content source, wherein the modified request requests the particular chunk at a second quality level; 
 receiving the particular chunk via the content source; and 
 causing a network interface to send the particular chunk to the first device. 
 
     
     
       18. The computer-readable hardware storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the network data includes performance indicators for a network device in a communication path between the first device and the content source. 
     
     
       19. The computer-readable hardware storage device of  claim 18 , wherein the performance indicators for the network device include a data rate available for clients in a next scheduling cycle, utilization of physical resource blocks, usage load, signal strength, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       20. The computer-readable hardware storage device of  claim 17 , wherein the operations further include generating the modified request based on information from a manifest for the media content.